From Dawn to Dusk

by Abby Bochnicek, Age 13

Prompt: Mystery Ranch Hand

Thunder rattled windowpanes and lightning split across the purplish sky, illuminating a small shack, slick with rain and trembling in the wind. Every gust of wind threatened to bring it down. A flicker of a glow shown through the window, the silhouette of a man bending over it, trying to keep it alive for a little longer.

The man sighed, resting his head against his arms for a minute. He was so tired. But nothing mattered more right now than keeping this scant heat alive. 

He glanced at the only bed in the one room house. Fast asleep, a little girl with brown curls sprawled over the pillow, shifted slightly, then found her thumb and immediately settled down. She lay in the same place the man’s wife had just a short month ago, although it felt like years now. 

That was where his beloved Elsie had lain when she took her final breath. 

It was painful for him to continue on without the loving care and expertise Elsie had inflicted upon their family.

She would’ve made sure our daughter didn’t grow up like this. 

He knew he had to go sometime… but where would he go? He had worked odd jobs in the past, never committing to the horrible and ultimately more convenient life of crime. Elsie had made sure, even in their most desperate times, he hadn’t gone down that road. 

The man rested his chin in his palm. Perhaps someone could use him as a… a…

No ideas came to mind. 

I have to do something. We can’t stay here forever.

He had promised… promised he wouldn’t let Ellen grow up wrong. No matter the costs or risks he had to take. He would gladly give her to another family, though it would be difficult, if it meant she didn’t grow up in poverty. 

 

No matter what happens 

I’m here through and through

Even when the sky blackens

And the walls are too tough to break through

Never will I leave

Never will I be gone

Because my little one, I’ll stay beside you from dusk till dawn

 

The song Elsie had always sung to Ellen before she fell asleep. Though, he supposed, it was his duty to keep that oath now. 

Then, as white lightning raked across the sky, the man looked up. Barely audible, he whispered five words that would forever bound him to that song, no matter what.

“And I’ll never break it.”

###

“Well here we are, Ellen,” the man said, dropping his little girl to the ground. “We’re in the middle of nowhere, this horse decided to throw a shoe, and we have no way to get help. What now?”

The moment he woke up, he’d packed up and headed out, keen on finding a new home for him and his little girl. 

And now they were stuck. 

He pulled a square of paper from the back pocket of his trousers and peered at the faded writing. 

“I thought Millerton wasn’t too far from here,” he muttered. “But I s’pose that’s what I said two hours ago.” He straightened and sighed. “I don’t want to, Ellen, but I have to admit that we are truly lost.”

Ellen didn’t answer, not that he expected her too. She was too busy drawing shapes in the dust with a stick. 

The man shaded his eyes and looked far into the horizon. It was useless. He saw nothing except dust, land, the blazing sun, and a few trees scattered here and there. 

I could walk.

But how long would it be before he, too, became exhausted and quit?

A strange sound caused him to whirl around. A dark shape was coming towards them. The clattering of wheels. The sound of hoofs against hard packed ground. 

He picked up Ellen, holding her protectively against his chest. Ellen fussed to be let down. The man raised a hand to hail the oncoming buggy. 

It screeched to a stop. There was a nice looking couple in the buggy, the man wore a top hat and the woman had a covering over her face from the dust. 

“Excuse me, mister,” Top-Hat man said. “I didn’t mean to run you over.”

“I apologize fer being in the way,” the man said. “But you wouldn’t happen to know where the nearest town would be, would ya? My horse went lame, and I’m running out of time.”

The Top-Hat man hesitated. “Millerton is just another mile. But it might take a while on foot, and with a little girl.”

Very funny.

The man narrowed his eyes. He knew he didn’t look his younger age (his wife’s death had aged him greatly) but this youngster could be a bit more respectable. 

“Don’t worry,” he said in a less-than-gracious tone. “I’ve done more walking than a mile before.” 

“Well then,” Top-Hat tipped his sorry excuse for a head covering. “We’d best be on our way if you have it figured out. Just go south. Or you could follow our tracks. Whichever you’d like.”

The man stepped off to the side, still holding Ellen, gesturing to the empty road. Top-Hat slapped the reins against the horse’s backs and clattered away.

“Fools,” the man muttered once they were gone. “You’d think people would be a bit more respectable.”

He straightened and grabbed his fallen horse’s saddle, a gift from his wife. There was no way he would give it up. 

“Well, Ellen, looks like we got some walkin’ to do.”

 

###

 

The man stood atop a hill, his lone figure silhouetted by the setting sun. Below him was the small Millerton. His saddle dangled in his right hand. As he watched the glowing yellow ball descend farther, he smiled. 

“Come on, Ellen,” he called to his child sitting on the hard packed ground. “Let’s get moving.”

“Papa, hungry!” Ellen reached her arms toward him. “No more walking.”

The man smiled and crouched by his little girl. He plopped his hat on her head. “We’re almost there, little one. Then we’ll get something to eat.” 

“No, Papa!” Ellen wailed. “Want Mama! Want food.”

The man sighed.

I want your Mama too.

The unbidden thought rose before he could stop it.

But she’s not here right now, Ellen. It’s just you and me. And I promised. 

“Should we walk more tomorrow?” he asked. “Or would ya like a nice soft bed tonight?”

“Bed?” Ellen brightened, clapping her hands. “Bed, Papa! Don’t wanna walk!”

The man chuckled. “I’ll carry you,” he offered. “But you must be a good girl.”

“Good girl,” Ellen stuck her dirty thumb in her mouth and quieted.

“That’s it,” the man reached into one of his saddle bags and pulled out a locket. He opened it to reveal a portrait of Elsie with little Ellen. “If Papa lets you wear this, will you be good until we get to town?”

Ellen’s little gasp of wonder was priceless. She nodded, shocked as her father fastened the locket around her neck. She traced her fingers around the inscribed words.

From Dusk Until Dawn

Elsie had treasured those words, but it took her husband longer to figure out their meaning. 

“Papa, will you sing to me?” Ellen asked hopefully.

The man jerked out of his thoughts. “Not today, sweetheart. Papa’s too tired. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Needing to collect his wits before continuing. He went down the hill a bit, unwisely not paying attention to the ground. He kept his eyes fixated on the quickly darkening sky. 

Too late, he noticed the root sticking out of the ground. With a startled yell, he tripped and tumbled farther, landing hard on his left ankle.

Splitting pain raced up his leg. The man groaned and held his foot. 

“Papa!” He heard Ellen shriek. “Papa, you okay?”

“Stay there, Ellen!” the man commanded weakly. “I’ll come back soon.”

Crying sounds followed.

How could I have been so dumb? Why did I leave her for one minute?

He knew he wouldn’t be able to make it up the hill. He needed Ellen to come down, but she couldn’t lug the heavy saddle behind her. 

What am I thinking? Why would I care about a saddle when my little girl is up there?

A shout made his blood run cold. 

“Come back this instant!”

Oh, no. Is it Ellen? 

The man struggled to get up, but he knew it was useless. 

“Ellen!” He shouted. 

“Who are you?”

The question brought him around. A young boy was staring at him, curiosity brimming in his bright eyes. 

“Chad!” A boy a bit older stomped out of the trees beyond and grabbed the younger one. “Father said for you to come back. We’re supposed to go home and--”

He cut off when he noticed the man on the ground. His jaw unhinged.

“Justin! Chad! Your mother will not be pleased!”

“Father, come here!” The younger one called. A man came out of the forest, looking upset. He was holding yet another little boy by the hand.

Whatever this stranger was going to say was lost when he saw the man on the ground. 

“Go away now,” the man spoke through gritted teeth. He had to find Ellen!

“I told you I heard something, Father!” The first boy said, pointing. “I was right!”

“That you were,” the stranger those boys called Father, knelt by the man. “Sir, can we help you?”

“I don’t need help,” the man forced himself into a sitting position, trying to stop a look of pain from crossing his face. “I’m perfectly capable of helping myself.” 

“Yes, I can see that,” the stranger glanced at the man’s ankle.

“Papa, where are you?” Ellen wailed. 

The man groaned. 

The stranger looked up. “Is that your child?”

“Yes.”

“Boys, go get her now,” the stranger ordered. “And anything else that might be up there.”

The three little boys scampered off, whispering excitedly to one another. 

“No!” the man lurched trying to get up. “Don’t touch her.”

“Calm down,” the stranger said. “She’ll be perfectly safe. Trust me. Now, what happened?”

“And why would I tell you?” the man snapped. “I don’t even know your name.”

“I don’t know yours, and I’m helping you,” the stranger shrugged. “James Carter is the name. Those are my sons. Did you trip on a root?”

“Yes,” the man answered. “On something sticking out of the ground. I wasn’t looking.”

“Ah, yes,” James shook his head. “Happens all the time. Even to me. Especially at night. I’m going to get you and your daughter into town. Is that alright?”

What choice do I have?

“Fine.”

“Let me help you up,” James extended a hand, but before the man could take it, a little girl flew down the hill and into her father’s arms. 

“Papa, Papa, Papa!” she sobbed. “They’re chasing me!”

The two oldest boys appeared, looking winded. The youngest one came soon after.

The older one was holding the saddle. “She’s really fast,” he said breathlessly. 

“Calm down, Ellen,” the man commanded. “They’re here to help.”

Ellen instantly quieted. The man set her aside while James helped him onto his remaining working foot. 

“Boys, go get the horses and bring them out here. And please don’t leave your younger brother behind this time.”

“Yes, Father,” they all answered dutifully, and ran off again, dropping the saddle on the ground. 

“What happened to your horse?” James asked.

“Went lame,” the man spoke softly. “Been walking ever since.”

“Papa, hungry,” Ellen said softly. She played with the locket at her neck.

“I know, Ellen. Just a little longer.”

“Have you two been on your own?” James inquired. 

The man scowled. “I don’t like answering all your questions. How we got here and how long we’ve been here is none of your concern.”

“I understand,” James said. “You can ride one of our horses with your daughter. Your ankle doesn’t look so bad that you can’t ride a horse. But, if you don’t want to take the risk, I understand.”

“We’re just trying to get to town,” the man said in a clipped tone. “I don’t care how.”

James nodded. A few minutes later, the boys returned with three horses in tow. Well, not exactly. One was a small pony.

“Justin and Chad, you’ll both ride Coco,” he ordered. “Mitchell, you’re with me, and sir, you and your daughter can ride Thunder.”

Chad scowled at this. 

James helped the man over to the big bay horse. He was able to get on without too much help, and accepted Ellen. 

“Follow us,” James offered. “These hills can get confusing, but town’s not too far.”

The man had no choice but to listen.

 

###

 

“Here we are, Ellen,” the man whispered. “Our new home.”

Millerton was small, but friendly. The man’s ankle had healed up nicely after the stranger had brought him into town. He hadn’t seen that man since. 

“Now, little girl,” he said. “It’s time for a new start. And that means I am getting a good job I can hold down.”

There were HELP WANTED signs absolutely everywhere, but nowhere the man could work. 

“What was that fella’s name, Ellen? James Carter?”

Ellen didn’t respond. 

“James Carter!” An older woman on the road overheard him. “James Carter is a rancher about an hour’s way from here. He’s got a good spread and a good family. They need all the help they can get, if you’re looking for a job.”

The man nodded politely at her and moved away. 

“What do you think, sweetheart?” he whispered. “Does this seem right?”

Ellen squealed as he tickled her and swung her around. 

“Don’t you worry, baby girl,” he held her close. “I’m going to find us a nice home, with a nice job, and you’re gonna grow up to be a right nice young lady, or my name ain’t Sid McCoy.”

As the two-some started for the road, Sid thought he heard a tinkling of a song drifting over the hills, matching the splendor of the on-coming dusk.

He sang softly.

 “No matter what happens

I’m here through and through

Even when the sky blackens 

And the walls are too tough to break through

Never will I leave

Never will I be gone

Because, my little one, I’ll stay beside you from dusk till dawn.”